A piece for bass clarinet and piano, written for Michel Marang and Reinier van Houdt in 2007. The title comes from a fragment by Sappho:
And their feet move
Rhythmically, as tender
feet of Cretan girls
danced once around an
altar of love, crushing
a circle in the soft
smooth flowering grass
(Translation: Mary Barnard)
Duration: 13′
I wrote two pieces called Monochrome, on request of November Music, for the 2006 edition of the festival. The first is written for two piano’s, the second for carillon. Both compositions use the same musical material but there is a world of difference between them: one is an intimate chamber music piece, the other is a composition for bells in open air. They can be played independently as individual pieces, or simultaneously.
This work is dedicated to Daan Manneke.
Monochrome I for two pianos. Duration: 15′
Monochrome II for carillon. Duration: 5′
In this trio for 2 violas and piano there are two contrasting layers that remain unaffected by each other.
The two violas play a soft polyphonic chromatic texture that is always present but never exceeds the dynamic level of mp. They seem to imitate each other, but never in an exact way. They seem to be performing a blurry slow motion dance, always remaining faithful to their timid character.
The piano plays a completely different part. On the one hand there are very energetic fragments, with many sudden dynamic changes and a unpredictable rhythmic structure. On the other hand there are soft chord progressions that blend in with the ever present string sound. The piano also regularly turns to silence, as if it has to recharge for the next eruption of energy.
Viola (2), Piano. Duration: 10-11′
The title Pentagram refers to the five parts of the piece. Every part features a different combination of instruments:
1: Flute, Piano, Tape
2: Alto Flute, Percussion
3: Piccolo, Piano, Xylophone, Tape
4: Flute
5: Bass Flute, Piano, Percussion, Tape
The tapes were created using only recorded flute sounds, not only regular tones, but also noises and key sounds. These sounds were processed in the electronic studio of the Brabants Conservatorium in Tilburg. During a performance the tape sounds should blend in with the live instruments.
Pentagram was inspired by the Shakuhachi flute.
Duration: 17′